ID please, and problem?

[azrien]

Hello, this is being posted on behalf of my bro-in-law who owns this guy. He has no idea what this is, I assume it's an SPS (if not, I'll move it to wherever it belongs, I don't keep SPS or LPS so I have no idea what this guy is), and it's been dying in his tank. I'll do my best with figuring out his parameters, tonight I will ask him in more detail what his tank's deal is so hopefully we can get to the bottom of what is wrong.

1. System age and size (volume including sump). 90g tank + I assume around 20g (probably more) of sump, system around one or two months old, maybe a bit more. When he started it, he used some sand and rock from a long-established 55g, but I really think he didn't wait long enough for this one to settle in.

2. System type (Jaubert, Berlin, modified berlin, etc.).

Unsure

3. Water flow (amount and type).

Two good outflows from the sump, one more large pump now pointed towards the dying coral.

4. Filtration type (algae scrubber, skimmer, bio-wheel, etc.).

Large skimmer, kind of DSB, liverock (probably needs more of that)

5. Lighting photoperiod, scheme, color temp, type and wattage (NO flourescents, VHO or HO, Power compacts, halides).

Two 96w actinics on daytime, most of the day, two MH (unsure wattage, temp) on for probably half the day, moonlights (very bright ones) at night.

6. Water parameters (temperature, calcium, alkalinity, salinity, ammonia, nitrites/trates, magnesium, etc.) (the more the better).

I will have to ask about this tonight.

7. Tank inhabitants (types of coral, fish, inverts, etc.).

Zoos, mushrooms, xenia, polyps, brain coral, snails, hermits, yellow tang, sand sifting goby

8. Type of water used for top-off/water changes (straight tap, TWP, RO, RO/DI, etc.).

RO/DI

9. Additives used (kalkwasser, B-Ionic, calcium reactor [include media type], etc.).

Two part calcium solution, I think it also adds magnesium and strontium.

10. Feeding (schedule and type).

Will ask.

I know it's not much, but hopefully it's something. The coral resides just a couple centimeters from the surface, practically right under the MH. He fragged off one segment and put it elsewhere, same height, but it's almost dead.

Photos follow, I hope they are decent.

And one closeup of the dying area.

Any insight is greatly appreciated, at the least what this guy is. Thanks in advance!

 

[PUGroyale]

It's a hydnophora and it's in a bad way

Short term: Lower it down in the tank, get some test kits [Alk and Ca], pray :lol:

 

[azrien]

Excellent, thank you! So you think it's getting burned by the light? What would you think about fragging it up and putting the frags in various locations, would it survive that drastic measure?

 

[jmcmahon66]

Lower it, make sure it gets good flow (polyps swaying), and test everything to get parameters in order. They are a tolerant coral IME and will bounce back when given a good evironment. Good Luck.

 

[azrien]

Have any good sources for info on these corals? I'm frantically searching for anything I can find on this guy.

 

[azrien]

JMC, thanks, unfortunately it has no polyps to sway- I think they're all contracted. What would be ideal level in the tank? Middle, close to MH, far away from MH, bottom? I really want to help him save this guy.

 

[GMAX]

I dont see any polyp extension in your photo. Is that generally the case? Coral is not happy, may be water parameters not light or not just light.

 

[azrien]

Gmax, precisely. It doesn't seem normal, it just seems really, really sad right now. I'm trying to find info on this guy to give me an idea where to put it. I'm sure the params are off but I think the light might be hurting it, but I don't want to put it in a dark region. SPS is out of my league.

 

[menard]

Those recesion might turn into Brown Jelly Deseas ( Advance Infection )

I would frag'em if I were U.
Check Ca and Alk. levels, make sure this 2 are balance.
Place it down lower for now, when U see PE U can move slowly closer to the light.

 

[tuberider]

IME, Hydnos don't like driect flow, the flesh looks contracted as if it is getting hit by direct flow. Try indirect flow, and lower it down a little, when it's happy it should puff up. Also, you may want to have him throw in a little carbon if there are any softies in the tank.

 

[azrien]

Tuberider, what is the relation with softies and carbon? I'm curious on that. Yeah I think this guy is getting *too much* flow, hard to tell though as it seems like a green skeleton, sadly. We will try the lowering and flow alterations. I hope we can save it! Thanks for all the help, if there's any more tips and advice, keep 'em coming.

 

[GMAX]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=469

Here is a link that will tell you some more about the coral and its care.

 

[PUGroyale]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8121893#post8121893 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by azrien
Excellent, thank you! So you think it's getting burned by the light?

No, I don't think it's getting burned by the light but it's not helping it being that high in it's current state. I think it's a water chemistry issue, more than likely alkalinity related... but you didn't post NO3 or PO4 values either, so who knows ~ TEST!

 

[azrien]

Thanks, pretty much like everything else I've found. Well, water tests are in order tonight as are fragging and home-hunting. I'll post the results here.

 

[GMAX]

Maybe the tank is getting hot? I see Live Aquaria is saying 72 -78 degrees. I keep my tank warmer than that but only a couple degrees and a chiller keeps it very stable. Poor water qualityor a dearth of food to filter feed on are my two top guesses at this point. Cant do much without more water parameters, I am afraid.

 

[azrien]

Temp in the sump is 79.4. Not terrible, and this is after a few hours of halides running. Probably won't get higher than that. I wish I knew where his test kits were as I'd run a few right now. Now I play the waiting game.

 

[Vanquish]

You might be keen to know that the hypnophora packs a lethal sting, fragging it and planting it all over would take up lots of space as you need to provide allowance between itself and other corals...

 

[tuberider]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8122760#post8122760 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Vanquish
You might be keen to know that the hypnophora packs a lethal sting, fragging it and planting it all over would take up lots of space as you need to provide allowance between itself and other corals...

Very true, the Chuck Norris of corals.

A few years ago I had an issue with a plating Hydno (microconos?). All of the sudden the tissue started to contract/recede. Turns out my D.I. cartrige was spent, my phosphates were sky high. I ran down to the beach got a bunch of water, did a 50% change, and presto the coral was on a rampage, and has ever since. BTW, during the heat wave this summer my tank was hovering aroung 85 degrees, with no ill effects t the coral.

The reason I mentioned carbon, was to mitagate any potential toxins from softies/poor water quality. As well as potentially help out with any toxins from fragging. I also don't know if I would wait for test kits, if it were me I'd be mixing up a batch of water fo a change asap.

 

[NuclearReefs]

Id frag it if you want to keep it...

Just like the other guys say though.. its mean and packs a punch when healthy.. I wouldnt put it near another coral... within 3-4 inches at the closest.....

 

[azrien]

Yeah I think we're going to frag. Save the coral first, think about the coral's frags' placements later. Now here's a great hitch: his test kit was lent out to a friend and he still doesn't have it back. That complicates matters juuuust a tad, eh? Well, we'll do our best.

Incidentally, what's the best way to frag this? Just clip off pieces and lay them in the rock? I don't think he has any epoxy or even any plugs, so we'd just be wedging pieces in. Suggestions?